The National Automobile Dealers Association has put together a new initiative to raise public awareness of some simple ways to save money on gas and, at the same time, cut greenhouse gas emissions.

It's called the Green Checkup, and nearly 1,000 new-car and -truck dealers in all 50 states and Canada are offering this service at their dealerships for free. Click here to find a participating dealer near you.

Auto dealers already routinely conduct vehicle safety inspections. However, the Green Checkup will focus on those things that have the most impact on fuel economy, such as oil and air filters, engine performance, tire pressure and emission controls.

Even the most fuel-efficient cars can get poor gas mileage if they’re not properly driven or maintained.

For example …

• Tires that are not inflated properly can reduce fuel economy by 3 percent.• A single misfiring spark plug can cut fuel economy by 4 percent (more).

Many dealers may decide to provide the Green Checkup along with inspections of child passenger safety seats, as well as other service checks.

We have also compiled “6 Ways to Save Gas” — a list of green driving tips to help you increase your fuel economy.

As the voice of the nation’s roughly 20,000 franchised new-car and -truck dealers, NADA shares the goals of curbing fuel use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Did You Know ...

The nation’s new-car and truck dealers have spent about $1 billion to make their dealerships more ecofriendly? (more)

More than 800 dealers are members of EPA’s Energy Star Small Business Network, pledging to reduce their energy use by at least 10 percent? (more)

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has certified two dealers, and two dozen others are nearing certification?

Dealers support the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) law, which calls for vehicles to achieve 35 mpg by 2020 — a 40 percent increase over today’s standards?